Will we see the Ladbrokes Trophy or King George winner in Colin Parker?

Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase (Listed) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

The Colin Parker is a well-worn path to bigger and better things and connections of this year's contenders are also looking to the future.

Many Clouds was successful in 2014 before going on to Hennessy and Grand National glory that season, while Waiting Patiently and Lostinstranslation have struck at the highest level after capturing the Carlisle contest.

Imperial Aura graduated to Grade 2 honours at Ascot after last year's Colin Parker and his team of trainer Kim Bailey and jockey David Bass are represented by the exciting Espoir De Romay, who was going well when falling two out in the Mildmay Novices' Chase at Aintree's Grand National meeting in the spring.

The Ladbrokes King George VI Chase could figure in his future if he prevails and co-owner John Webber said: "Kim has talked about this race for a long time and we all think a lot of the horse. He's rated 160 and perhaps hasn't done enough to prove he's that level, but if this goes well, I think the King George is the plan.

"I think he'd have won at Aintree when he fell and hopefully he can prove it. He looks a million dollars and everything he's done up to now has delighted everyone. He's bigger and stronger than last season and has done plenty of schooling, while the soft ground won't be a problem."

Ahoy Senor: Grade 1 winner last seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Conditions also ought to suit Ahoy Senor, Espoir De Romay's main rival, according to the early betting.

He sprang a 66-1 shock in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April, but his chasing career stalled when he missed an engagement at Carlisle last week because of the ground, and it was a similar story at Wetherby on Friday.

The six-year-old is trained by Lucinda Russell, whose partner and assistant Peter Scudamore said: "It’s going to be tough for him and it is two and a half miles when he probably needs three miles, but we've taken him out because of the ground from a few tracks, so I’m hoping that Carlisle will suit us.

"I think at the weights he’s not badly in, so we’ll just see how we get on. He’s been schooling fine at home and is an ex-point-to-pointer. He’s only had a couple of runs over hurdles and when we’ve schooled him we’ve thought he’s jumped particularly well, so this is the first step on the ladder for him."

The Russell yard won the Grand National with One For Arthur in 2017, while five years earlier Brindisi Breeze landed the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

Lucinda Russell: Ahoy Senor's trainerCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"It was a fantastic performance to win the Grade 1 at Aintree last year and we now have to prove that it wasn’t a fluke," Scudamore added.

"We hope he's as good as the likes of One For Arthur and Brindisi Breeze, but he's got to go out and prove it now."

Colin Tizzard saddled the aforementioned Lostintranslation and relies on Fiddlerontheroof, who also has some smart novice chase form from last season.

"He's in great form and this has been the target for some time off the back of last year," said Tizzard's son and assistant Joe.

"He’s got the same owners as Lostintranslation and we just thought it’s a lovely place to start.

"Although he's got a lot of seconds against his name he wasn’t disgraced at all last season and I think he's a horse who is improving with age, so we’re looking forward to it.

"The biggest thing was the fact that while our horses weren’t firing through bits of the season, he maintained consistency throughout the year, and I think it just shows his ability; hopefully there's a bit more to come.

"We like this race with a view to his first main target being the Ladbrokes Trophy and we’ll see how he develops."

The form of Fergal O'Brien's yard means Silver Hallmark ought not to be dismissed, while Pay The Piper was useful over hurdles and promises to be better over fences.

Carlisle confident despite deluge

Carlisle has had 47mm of rain since Tuesday and more is forecast on Saturday and Sunday.

"We're doing fine," said clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright on Saturday morning. "There is quite a bit more rain due, but unless something very untoward happens we should be fine.

"We'd probably had enough rain in terms of what was needed by yesterday, so anything after we don't need, but we'll live with what we get. We're soft now and only going one way, as there's rain forecast today and tomorrow."

Homes have been flooded and travel disrupted in Cumbria this week, and weather warnings remain in place.

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